John 17 · Verse 12

John 17:12

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

John 17:12, King James Version

John 17:12 in other translations

BSB	While I was with them, I protected and preserved them by Your name, the name You gave Me. Not one of them has been lost, except the son of destruction, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
WEB	While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
ASV	While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
YLT	when I was with them in the world, I was keeping them in Thy name; those whom Thou hast given to me I did guard, and none of them was destroyed, except the son of the destruction, that the Writing may be fulfilled.
DARBY	When I was with them I kept them in thy name; those thou hast given me I have guarded, and not one of them has perished, but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
BBE	While I was with them I kept them safe in your name which you have given to me: I took care of them and not one of them has come to destruction, but only the son of destruction, so that the Writings might come true.
Webster	While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest to me I have kept, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

What does John 17:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 17:9-14

9-14. I pray for them--not as individuals merely, but as representatives of all such in every succeeding age (see on Joh 17:20). not for the world--for they had been given Him "out of the world" (Joh 17:6), and had been already transformed into the very opposite of it. The things sought for them, indeed, are applicable only to such.

Read the full comment on John 17:9-14 →

Barnes' Notes

Verse 12. While I was with them in the world. While I was engaged with them among other men--surrounded by the people and the temptations of the world. Jesus had now finished his work among the men of the world, and was performing his last offices with his disciples.

I kept them. By my example, instructions, and miracles. I preserved them from apostasy.

In thy name. In the knowledge and worship of thee. Jn 17:6-11.

Those that thou gavest me, &c. The word "gavest" is evidently used by the Saviour to denote not only to give to him to be his real followers, but also as apostles, It is here used, probably, in the sense of giving as apostles. God had so ordered it by his providence that they had been given to him to be his apostles and followers; but the terms "thou gavest me" do not of necessity prove that they were true believers. Of Judas Jesus knew that he was a deceiver and a devil, Jn 6:70: "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?" Judas is there represented as having been chosen by the Saviour to the apostleship, and this is equivalent to saying that he was given to him for this work; yet at the same time he knew his character, and understood that he had never been renewed. None of them. None of those chosen to the apostolic office.

But the son of perdition. Mt 1:1. The term son was given by the Hebrews to those who possessed the character described by the word or name following. Thus, sons of Belial-those who possessed his character; children of wisdom -those who were wise, Mt 11:19. Thus Judas is called a son of perdition because he had the character of a destroyer. He was a traitor and a murderer. And this shows that he who knew the heart regarded his character as that of a wicked man--one whose appropriate name was that of a son of perdition.

That the scripture, &c. Jn 13:18. Comp. Ps 41:9.

(t) "that the scripture might be fulfilled" Ps 109:8, Acts 1:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 12 I kept them in thy name - In thy doctrine and truth. But the son of perdition - So we find that Judas, whom all account to have been lost, and whose case at best is extremely dubious, was first given by God to Christ? But why was he lost? Because, says St. Augustin, he would not be saved: and he farther adds, After the commission of his crime, he might have returned to God and have found mercy. Aug. Serm. 125; n. 5; Psa 146:1-10. n. 20; Ser. 352, n. 8; and in Psa 108:1-13. See Calmet, who remarks: Judas only became the son of perdition because of his wilful malice, his abuse of the grace and instructions of Christ, and was condemned through his own avarice, perfidy, insensibility, and despair. In behalf of the mere possibility of the salvation of Judas, see the observations at the end of Acts 1 (note). Perdition or destruction is personified; and Judas is represented as being her son, i.e. one of the worst of men - one whose crime appears to have been an attempt to destroy, not only the Savior of the world, but also the whole human race. And all this he was capable of through the love of money! How many of those who are termed creditable persons in the world have acted his crime over a thousand times! To Judas and to all his brethren, who sell God and their souls for money, and who frequently go out of this world by a violent voluntary death, we may apply those burning words of Mr. Blair, with very little alteration: "O cursed lust of gold! when for thy sake The wretch throws up his interest in both worlds, First hanged in this, then damned in that to come." That the scripture might be fulfilled - Or, Thus the scripture is fulfilled: see Psa 41:9; Psa 109:8; compared with Act 1:20. Thus the traitorous conduct of Judas has been represented and illustrated by that of Ahitophel, and the rebellion of Absalom against his father David. Thus what was spoken concerning them was also fulfilled in Judas: to him therefore these scriptures are properly applied, though they were originally spoken concerning other traitors. Hence we plainly see that the treachery of Judas was not the effect of the prediction, for that related to a different case; but, as his was of the same nature with that of the others, to it the same scriptures were applicable.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 17:11-16

Christ does not pray that they might be rich and great in the world, but that they might be kept from sin, strengthened for their duty, and brought safe to heaven. The prosperity of the soul is the best prosperity. He pleaded with his holy Father, that he would keep them by his power and for his glory, that they might be united in affection and labours, even according to the union of the Father and the Son. He did…

Read the full comment on John 17:11-16 →

John 17:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὅτεhoteWhenG3753

ἤμηνēmēnI wasG1510

μετ᾽met᾽withG3326

αὐτῶνautōnthemG846

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtō<the>G3588

κόσμῳ,kosmōworldG2889

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

ἐτήρουνetērounwas keepingG5083

αὐτοὺςautousthemG846

ἐνeninG1722

τῷtōtheG3588

ὀνόματίonomatinameG3686

σουsouof YouG4771

ᾧhōwhich [name]G3739

δέδωκάςdedōkasYou have givenG1325

μοιmoito MeG3165

ἐφύλαξα,ephulaxaI guarded [them],G5442

καὶkaiandG2532

οὐδεὶςoudeisnoneG3762

ἐξexofG1537

αὐτῶνautōnthemG846

ἀπώλετοapōletohas perishedG622

εἰeionlyG1487

μὴmēexceptG3361

ὁhotheG3588

υἱὸςhuiossonG5207

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

ἀπωλείας,apōleiasof destruction,G684

ἵναinathatG2443

ἡhētheG3588

γραφὴgraphēScriptureG1124

πληρωθῇ.plērōthēamay be fulfilled.G4137

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 17:12

Psalms 109:6-19
Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand. When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. …
John 10:27-28
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 18:9
That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
John 13:18
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Acts 1:16-20
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. …
John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:70-71
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
Acts 1:25
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
John 6:39-40
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Hebrews 2:13
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I kept.
6:37,39,40; 10:27,28; Heb 2:13
and.
13:18; 18:9; Lu 4:26,27; 1Jo 2:19
the son.
6:70,71; 13:18; 2Th 2:3
that.
Ps 109:6-19; Ac 1:16-20,25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 17:12
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:13
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Read all of John 17

John 17:12 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Cuando estaba con ellos en el mundo, yo los guardaba en tu nombre; á los que me diste, yo los guardé, y ninguno de ellos se perdió, sino el hijo de perdición; para que la Escritura se cumpliese.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Quand j’étais avec eux, moi je les gardais en ton nom; j’ai gardé ceux que tu m’as donnés, et aucun d’entre eux n’est perdu, sinon le fils de perdition, afin que l’écriture fût accomplie.
German Elberfelder 1871	Als ich bei ihnen war, bewahrte ich sie in deinem Namen, den du mir gegeben hast; und ich habe sie behütet, und keiner von ihnen ist verloren, als nur der Sohn des Verderbens, auf daß die Schrift erfüllt werde.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Cum essem cum eis, ego servabam eos in nomine tuo. Quos dedisti mihi, custodivi: et nemo ex eis periit, nisi filius perditionis, ut Scriptura impleatur.